The Cordillera Regional Development Council (RDC-CAR) held the Renewable Energy (RE) Investment Forum on November 16, 2023 in Baguio City with the objective of informing and appraising stakeholders on the investment potentials of the region’s renewable energy sector.
The activity was attended by representatives from local government units (LGU), the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center, Department of Energy (DOE), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP-CAR), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-CAR) and various power generation companies in the region involved in the operation of hydroelectric power plants.
At the start of the forum, NEDA-CAR Regional Director Susan A. Sumbeling welcomed participants and opened the activity by echoing the role of CAR as the Watershed Cradle of the North and by citing the strategy of exploration and development of the region’s renewable energy sources that will enhance the adaptive capacity and resilience of communities and ecosystems to natural hazards and mitigating climate change as stated in the Regional Development Plan 2023-2028.
Edna Tabanda, Co-chairperson of the RDC-CAR, delivered the keynote message of the RDC Chairperson, Apayao Gov. Elias C. Bulut, Jr., which highlighted the development of CAR’s renewable energy potentials as a priority of the region. She committed the RDC’s support to both the public and private sector partners on pursuing RE projects through the provision of avenues for collaboration and meaningful discussions to achieve the vision of making the region the renewable energy powerhouse of the North.
During the forum’s presentation proper, Engr. Ariel D. Fronda, Chief of the Hydropower and Ocean Energy Management Division under the Renewable Energy Management Bureau of the DOE, presented the renewable energy scenario. This included a summary of awarded RE projects in CAR where 96 projects with a total energy potential of 4,459.15-megawatt (MW) were identified. Hydropower potential contributed the largest share in potential capacity. He also added that the utilization of these resources can be a driver of socio-economic development in the region.
Ms. Lisa Go, Chief of the Investments Promotions Office also under the DOE, presented Republic Act 11234 or the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) Act which was enacted to create a virtual system to streamline the permitting process of power generation, transmission and distribution projects. The EVOSS System was rolled-out to accept online applications from 9 national government agencies (NGA) including the DOE, NCIP, National Electrification Administration (NEA), National Transmission Corporation (TransCo), National Privacy Commission (NPC), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Independent Electricity Market Operator Philippines (IEMOP), Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). Pipelined for inclusion in the system are the Energy Regulation Commission (ERC), National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), and Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) Inc.
Mr. Agape Sem B. Comendador, OIC-Chief of the Capacity Building Division of the Capacity Building and Knowledge Management Service of the PPP Center, introduced to the body the Philippine PPP Program, its mandates and legal framework, technical assistance activities for implementing agencies and implementation and financing options of projects under PPP. Engr. Mary Rose Santillan of the Project Development Service of the PPP presented an overview on developing renewable energy and energy efficiency PPP projects. The challenges identified in investing in RE include commitment uncertainties due to short political terms of local chief executives when engaging projects with LGU partners, possible high cost per KWH especially for small scale projects, issues on legal use and ownership of site and right-of-way. However, it was emphasized that pursuing RE projects would incur low variable costs arising from fuel costs and low Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and pollution.
The RDC-CAR, with the National Economic and Development Authority-CAR as its secretariat, has made the development of the region’s renewable energy its priority from 2022-2025. The RE Investment Forum is one among several activities that are geared towards this thrust. The updating of the CAR Energy Master Plan is also being undertaken to serve as reference of LGUs and potential private sector partners in investing in RE projects in the region. By Alvin Ryan G. Fernandez
